JP3266092B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera for recording a moving image or still image signal obtained by an image sensor on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The viewfinder of a conventional electronic camera is roughly classified into an optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder. As a finder for a video camera of a video tape record system for recording a moving image signal on a magnetic tape, an electronic view finder using a small CRT is often used. An optical viewfinder is also used in a small video camera.

In an electronic still camera for recording a still image signal on a magnetic disk or a solid-state memory, an optical finder is usually used.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional electronic camera viewfinder has the following problems. In the optical viewfinder, the direction in which the viewfinder is viewed is fixed, and an optical system for the viewfinder is required to make the viewable direction changeable, and it is difficult to reduce the size and thickness of the electronic camera.

On the other hand, in an electronic view finder using a CRT, the viewing direction can be changed by a simple configuration. In this respect, the view is superior to that of an optical view finder. It is difficult to reduce the size. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and has as its object to provide a thin electronic camera which can change the viewing direction and has excellent operability.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electronic camera according to the present invention includes a main body having at least a front surface and a rear surface, and imaging means provided on the front side of the main body and for photographing a subject. A display unit having a display surface for displaying a subject image picked up by the image pickup unit; and a display unit provided on a back side of the main body and rotatably supporting the display unit. And a storage unit for storing the display unit, wherein the display unit switches between a first state in which the display surface is visible from the back side by the support unit and a second state substantially opposite to the first state. It is configured to be rotatably supported by the main body.

[0007]

1 to 3 are perspective views showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are perspective views showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. 1 to 7, a photographing lens 2 is provided on a front surface of an electronic camera body 1, and a release button 3 is provided on an upper surface 1a. The side surface 1b has a storage medium storage opening 4 for storing the storage medium.
As a recording medium, a magnetic disk or a solid-state memory is used.

A finder 5 composed of a liquid crystal display device or the like is provided on the back of the electronic camera body 1, and a subject image is displayed as a moving image on the display surface 5a of the finder 5 at the time of photographing. In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the display device 5 is located at a position near the upper surface 1 a of the electronic camera body 1.
The electronic camera body 1 is rotatably attached to the electronic camera body 1 by a rotation axis parallel to the upper surface 1a.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the finder 5 is housed in the electronic camera body 1. FIG. 2 shows the display surface 5a of the finder 5.
Represents a state in which is slightly upward. When photographing with the electronic camera body 1 lowered, the photographer can easily view the display surface 5a by setting the display surface 5a of the viewfinder 5 upward as described above. If the viewfinder 5 is attached to the electronic camera body 1 with a known structure (for example, a click stop mechanism) that fixes the viewfinder 5 at a plurality of rotation angles, it is stable when the electronic camera body 1 is mounted in the state of FIG. There is no risk of falling.

FIG. 3 shows that the finder 5 is about 18
It shows a state in which the display surface 5a is turned by 0 ° and the display surface 5a is directed toward the front of the electronic camera body 1 (the surface on which the photographing lens 2 is attached). At this time, when the display surface 5a is viewed from the front of the electronic camera body 1, the displayed image looks upside down, left and right. In order to enable this to be displayed correctly, two liquid crystal drive circuits are provided,
One is for normal display and the other is for up / down / left / right inverted display. Then, when the rotation angle of the finder 5 exceeds a certain value, the liquid crystal drive circuit may be switched to display upside down and left and right by a limit switch or the like so that the displayed image is not displayed upside down and left and right.

It should be noted that the liquid crystal drive circuit for up / down / left / right inverted display may display only the up / down inverted display. As described above, the display surface 5a of the viewfinder 5 can be viewed from the front of the electronic camera body 1, so that the composition, that is, its position on the photographing screen can be confirmed when the shutter release operation is performed by the so-called self-timer, which is convenient.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the display device 5 is rotatable with respect to the electronic camera main body 1 by a rotary shaft 6 parallel to the side surface 1b at a position close to the side surface 1b of the electronic camera main body 1. Mounted on FIG. 4 shows a state in which the viewfinder 5 is stored in the electronic camera body 1. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the display surface 5a of the finder 5 is slightly leftward.

If the viewfinder 5 is attached to the electronic camera body 1 by a known structure (for example, a click stop mechanism) that is fixed at a plurality of rotation angles, the electronic camera is stable when the electronic camera is mounted in the state shown in FIG. Yes, convenient when shooting with the self-timer. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the viewfinder 5 is rotated by about 180 ° from the housed state and the display surface 5a is moved to the electronic camera body 1
In the front (surface on which the taking lens 2 is attached). Thus, the display surface 5a of the finder 5
Can be seen from the front of the electronic camera body 1,
This is convenient because the user can check the composition, that is, his / her own position on the photographing screen, during a shutter release operation using a so-called self-timer.

In order to view the display surface 5a from the front of the electronic camera body 1 as described above, two liquid crystal driving circuits are provided, one for normal display and the other for left / right inverted display.
When the rotation angle of the finder 5 exceeds a certain value, the liquid crystal drive circuit may be switched for left / right reversed display by a limit switch or the like. In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the display device 5 is rotatably attached to the electronic camera main body 1 at a position near the upper surface 1a of the electronic camera main body 1 by a rotation axis parallel to the upper surface 1a. The side surface 5b of the finder 5 is flush with the side surface 1b of the electronic camera body 1.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the display surface 5a of the finder 5 is slightly upward. When photographing with the electronic camera body 1 lowered, the display surface 5a of the finder 5
With the camera facing upward, the photographer can easily view the display surface 5a.
Can be visually recognized. If the viewfinder 5 is attached to the electronic camera body 1 with a known structure (for example, a click stop mechanism) that fixes the viewfinder 5 at a plurality of rotation angles, the electronic camera is stable when the electronic camera is mounted in the state of FIG. Useful when shooting. Further, when one side surface 1b of the electronic camera body 1 is placed downward with the display surface 5a of the viewfinder 5 slightly upward as shown in FIG. This is convenient when shooting with the self-timer in the camera.

In all the embodiments, the attachment of the electronic camera body 1 to the viewfinder 5 is a detachable number. For example, as shown in FIG. You can use it in various ways. As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention,
Since the rotation angle can be changed by using the rotation axis near one side of the rectangular plate-shaped display device, the direction in which the finder is viewed can be easily changed.

When the shutter is automatically pressed using a self-timer, the electronic camera main body can be made independent. Further, it is possible to eliminate the difficulty of seeing the viewfinder depending on the photographing position such as the eye level and the waist level. In addition, if the electronic camera is attached to the electronic camera body 1 with a known structure (for example, a click stop mechanism) that fixes the finder at a plurality of rotation angles, the electronic camera is stable when the electronic camera is self-standing, and is convenient for shooting with a self-timer. It is.

Further, the rotation angle of the finder is set to about 180.
°, and if the display screen is turned upside down, left and right, only up and down, or only left and right, when shooting as a subject (for example, when shooting yourself using a so-called self-timer), You can view and shoot the finder from the front of the electronic camera. Further, according to the present invention, in the housed state (the rotation angle is 0 °), the electronic camera is accommodated on the back surface of the electronic camera main body, which contributes to downsizing of the electronic camera.

As described above, according to the present invention, the electronic camera is provided with the display means having the display surface for displaying the subject image picked up by the image pick-up means, and the electronic camera is provided on the back side of the main body, and rotates the display means A storage section for supporting the display means and supporting the display means, and the display means,
The support means rotatably supports the main body portion between a first state in which the display surface is visible from the back side and a second state substantially opposite to the first state. Therefore, there is little damage due to external force when the display means is stored, and the portability is excellent. Further, it is possible to provide an electronic camera with good operability in which the display surface of the display means can be visually recognized in any direction from a direction in which the imaging means is directed toward the subject to a direction substantially opposite to the direction. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. Electronic camera body 1a Top surface 1b Side surface 5 Viewfinder 5a Display surface

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Ryota Araki 1-6-3 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Nikon Oi Works Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takao Ikuma 1-3-6 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inspector, Nikon Oi Works, Ltd. Seiichi Tamura (56) References JP-A-63-153964 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/225

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A main unit having at least a front surface and a rear surface; an imaging unit provided on the front side of the main unit, for imaging a subject; and a display surface for displaying a subject image taken by the imaging unit. Display means, provided on the back side of the main body, provided with support means for rotatably supporting the display means, and having a storage section for storing the display means, wherein the display means The electronic device is characterized in that the display surface is rotatably supported by the main body portion between a first state in which the display surface is visible from the back side and a second state substantially opposite to the first state. camera. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the support unit is disposed at a peripheral end of the storage unit, and the display unit is configured to store the first state stored in the storage unit around the peripheral end of the storage unit as an axis. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein a display surface is rotatably supported between the second state in which the display surface is visible from the front side.